About the Workshop at The Conservatory

This session starts with a brief on the history of Cacao, starting from its Mesoamerican origin and culminating in the present-day transformation into the world of craft chocolate. It traverses through 3 centuries and multiple geo-political events and how they affected the story of Cacao and chocolate and tries to speak about what the future might hold for chocolate and how we at Manam Chocolate see ourselves fit into that narrative. This discussion will be followed by a profiling session that forms an introduction to appreciating craft chocolate. It includes an introduction to aroma training, and taste training and takes the audience through tasting various samples of craft chocolate and defects (Industrial Chocolate). 

Workshop by CHAITANYA MUPPALA,

FOUNDER & CEO, MANAM CHOCOLATE & DISTINCT ORIGINS PRIVATE LIMITED 

Chaitanya Muppala is the CEO of Distinct Origins Private Limited, which launched Manam Chocolate, an Indian Craft Chocolate brand. A second-generation entrepreneur with over 10 years of experience in the Indian food industry, Chaitanya holds a degree from Sauder School of Business, UBC, and has completed the Stanford Seed Program. In 2021, he founded Distinct Origins to develop India’s fine-flavor cacao industry, establishing the country’s largest cacao fermentary in West Godavari. He also built Manam Chocolate, which launched in August 2023. Before this, Chaitanya led Almond House, a renowned premium sweets brand, expanding its reach across South India.

Workshop Agenda

Introduction to Cacao's Origin and History 

● Mesoamerican origins of cacao 

● Role of cacao in ancient civilizations (Mayans, Aztecs) 

● Cacao as a sacred beverage and currency 

Cacao in the Age of Exploration 

● Arrival of cacao in Europe 

● Transformation of cacao into a chocolate drink 

● Spread of chocolate culture in Europe 

Industrial Revolution and Mass Production 

● Development of chocolate manufacturing processes 

● Mass production and availability of chocolate 

● Emergence of famous chocolate brands 

Geo-Political Events and Chocolate 

● Impact of World Wars on chocolate production and consumption 

● Post-war chocolate boom 

Craft Chocolate Renaissance 

● Rise of craft chocolate makers 

● Focus on quality, ethics, and sustainability 

● Artisanal production methods and single-origin chocolates 

Future 

● Changing consumer preferences (health-conscious, ethical sourcing) 

● Sustainability challenges in cacao farming 

● Innovation in chocolate production (flavors, techniques) 

Manam Chocolates Role in the Narrative 

● Our commitment to quality craft chocolate 

● Contribution to preserving cacao's heritage and elevating the chocolate experience

Introduction to Craft Chocolate Appreciation 

● Aroma Training:

● Importance of aroma in chocolate tasting 

Trends in Chocolate 

● Identifying different aroma profiles (fruity, nutty, floral) 

● Taste Training: 

● Understanding taste elements (sweetness, acidity, bitterness) 

● Recognizing flavour complexities in craft chocolate 

Chocolate Tasting Session 

● Sampling various craft chocolate bars: 

- Single-origin chocolate 

- Different flavor profiles (dark, milk, white) 

- Note-taking and sharing tasting experiences Defect Identification 

● Introduction to common defects found in industrial chocolate Conclusion and Q&A 

Recap of key points in the journey of cacao and chocolate 

Open floor for questions and discussions about craft chocolate, its appreciation, and the future of the industry. 

Terms and Conditions :

• The management is not responsible for any injury or damage that may occur during an event
• Conservatory is located on the 2nd floor of courtyard which is a 44 steps climb up
• Do not purchase tickets from anyone other than on the ticketing platform.
• No-shows and cancellations are non-refundable by all means.
• Tickets are non-transferable and are for personal use only.
• Children aged 7 and above require a ticket to attend the meal. If you are bringing a child under 7, please inform us in advance, as we do not have a baby seat at the venue.
• The schedule is subject to change in case of an emergency or any event out of our control.
• Management will entertain no liability or claims arising due to the consumption or intake of any food or drink.
• Parking near the event premises is at the risk of the vehicle owner.
• Paid Valet Parking at Rs. 200 per car.
• The holder of this ticket grants organizers the right to use, in perpetuity, all or any part of the recording of any video or still footage made of the holder's appearance on any channel without any further approval.
• Please note that both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are prepared in the same kitchen."
• Photographs and videos of ticket holders may be uploaded to social media. If you do not wish to be featured, let our team know.